Many people today, just as in biblical times, are seeking God by blindly following every whim set before them. They look for God in a friend who claims to know the way. When that fails, they turn to some spiritualist who says, "God is in you" or perhaps "It's all mind over matter." Every attempt to find God will fail until we make the decision to stop and be still. Be still and call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the darkest moments of your life. Lost souls need to do this to receive salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Christians need to do this in order to seek direction and learn of God's will for their life.

We may become bogged down with work to the extent that we cannot see the world around us. God does not place us in that type of situation. It happens to us because we forget to seek his direction. Elijah thought God had forsaken him for a period of time. He hid from the elements in a cave and began seeking God's voice. He looked for God in a storm, an earthquake and a fire. When every effort failed, Elijah sat down and let the Spirit of God take over in his life. It was then that he'd heard a still small voice commanding him to arise. To be still and know that God was near should have been the first action he took. However it was last in a series of actions in search of God.

When we slip out of God's will, we often tend to run in every direction, seeking to get back on the right path. If we will just stop, be still and know that God is near, we will find that He is looking for us and if we would just sit down and call upon him, he will find us.

I remember a time when I was 4 years old. My parents and my grandmother were working in our cotton field and had left me lying on a blanket on the ground. I became very tired and wanted to go home. I was told to cross the field and go to the house. There was a hay meadow between the cotton field and our house. I became lost in the grass which was taller than I was. I began to scream loudly. My grandmother came looking for me but could not find me because I kept running back and forth in every direction. She finally told me, "be still and keep calling me." When I did that, she was able to find me. She later told me that I was not alone. She said, "God was with you all the time."

The Lord is looking for us when we are off the path he has prepared for us. He wants us to be still and know that he is God. He wants us to be still and examine our lives to see what needs to be done.

Quite often, we seek God in vain until we reach the point at which our heart is broken. When that happens, we begin to pray more earnestly and sincerely, thus opening God's heart and allowing His love to be seen This was his plan from the very beginning and I assure you, it will work every time. Sincerity is the key to finding God and opening His heart; Remember, at times when you feel like God is a long way off, be still and know that He is near.